The legacy of Sir Sydney Gun-Munro will be forever indelibly stamped in the minds and hearts of Vincentians. Saturday, hundreds filled the St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Bequia to pay their final respects to this nation’s first Governor-General.

Sir Sydney was given a guard of honour as his coffin was carried into the church.{{more}}

In the humid conditions, the cool, captivating ocean breeze from the nearby sea that whisked through the windows of the church from time to time, provided some comfort to those present to say goodbye to a great human being.

Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Ralph E. Gonsalves led a government delegation to the funeral with included Deputy Prime Minister, Sir Louis Straker, Senator Julian Francis, Director of Grenadines Affairs, Edwin Snagg, and Deputy Director, Herman Belmar.



Sir Sydney’s son, Rodney Gun-Munro, presented the Eulogy and recalled vivid memories of his father. He said that his father loved sailing and never missed the opportunity to take his family along. He said their “epic voyages” took them down the leeward side of the island, revealing many of St Vincent’s natural delights.

Rodney went on to say that even though his father was a renowned doctor, he never forced them into that profession, “He always supported us to follow our dreams, but to know that education was the key to success.” He told the congregation that he would most like his father to be remembered as a dedicated medical practitioner, a man with charm and wit and most of all for the love, which he showed to his family.

Archdeacon Charles Adams of the Anglican church told SEARCHLIGHT that he knew Sir Sydney since he was a surgeon at the Colonial Hospital, now called the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital. “He was an outstanding man. A Christian man and a man for all seasons,” said Archdeacon Adams.

He mentioned that in life some people are motivated by material things or making contributions to various organisations, but said that Sir Sydney’s motivation came from the Lord.